A day later.
The main training hall of the warehouse had been cleared out. Morning light filtered through the high windows, dust floating lazily through the air.
Akira, Sora, and Jackson stood in a line wearing the black training suits Maya had prepared for them. The material was tight and flexible, faint lines of Tao-conductive thread running through the fabric.
In front of them stood Maya Yashinori, tablet in hand.
She looked up from the screen.
"So I'm assuming you know what your training is."
All three of them shook their heads.
Sora flicked her hair back lazily.
"It's hard to remember that much after a day."
Maya slowly palmed her face.
"…Right."
She tapped her tablet.
The air in front of them flickered.
A glowing projection burst outward across the floor like a holographic blueprint, lines of light spreading through the room until a massive training diagram appeared beneath their feet.
Three separate paths lit up.
Each labeled with a name.
JACKSON TRAINING PROGRAM
Jackson's section lit first.
A glowing diagram of a battlefield appeared.
Maya pointed without looking up.
"Jackson. Your problem isn't power."
Jackson smirked slightly.
"I know."
"Your problem," she continued flatly, "is that you fight like a hammer looking for nails."
A new layer of the plan appeared.
Dozens of moving Tao signatures danced across the projection.
"Your training focuses on combat awareness and control."
The program unfolded:
1. Multi-Opponent Combat
Jackson must fight three moving Tao constructs simultaneously while preventing them from surrounding him.
The constructs would adapt to his attacks and punish reckless aggression.
"Right now," Maya said, "you overpower individuals."
The hologram showed the constructs closing in on Jackson.
"But war isn't one opponent."
Jackson folded his arms.
"Fine."
2. Tao Pressure Control
A second section of the floor glowed.
A massive circle filled with fluctuating Tao pressure.
"You leak too much Tao," Maya said. "You fight like you're announcing every attack."
Jackson would have to fight inside fluctuating Tao gravity fields without losing balance or control.
The higher the pressure rose, the harder it became to move.
"Your strength needs discipline."
Jackson nodded slowly.
"…That one might actually be interesting."
SORA TRAINING PROGRAM
Sora's path lit next.
Her section of the floor turned into a series of shifting combat lines and prediction grids.
Maya pointed.
"You."
Sora rolled her eyes.
"Yes, me."
"Your defense is excellent," Maya said.
The hologram showed dozens of simulated attacks striking a barrier.
"But you hesitate."
A red counter appeared above the simulation.
29 OPPORTUNITIES
ONLY 2 ADVANCED.
Sora sighed.
"Kingston really counted?"
"Yes."
Sora muttered under her breath.
"Of course he did…"
The training plan appeared.
1. Offensive Timing Drills
Dozens of small Tao drones would attack Sora in controlled bursts.
Her goal wasn't to defend.
It was to attack first.
If she blocked instead of advancing, the system would reset.
"You're too comfortable waiting."
Sora tilted her head.
"Waiting wins fights."
"Not against stronger enemies."
The hologram shifted.
2. Prediction Combat
An AI-like Tao construct would analyze Sora's patterns.
Every time she hesitated, the construct would exploit the opening.
"You need instinct," Maya said.
"Not caution."
Sora cracked her neck.
"Alright… this one sounds fun."
AKIRA TRAINING PROGRAM
Finally—
Akira's name lit across the floor.
The largest projection appeared beneath his feet.
A massive layered program unfolded:
Tao control drills.
Movement exercises.
Martial repetition.
Energy compression training.
Meditation cycles.
Azure flame regulation.
Team combat rotations.
The program stretched across almost the entire training hall.
Maya began explaining.
"Akira, your issue is simple."
Akira crossed his arms.
"You waste power."
The hologram showed a simulation of his previous fight.
Azure flames exploded wildly around him.
"Your Tao control is awful."
Another projection appeared.
A small flame.
Perfectly contained.
"This is control."
The plan continued unfolding:
1. Tao Flow Stabilization
Akira would sit within a Tao circulation array while slowly pushing energy through different parts of his body.
Goal: eliminate energy leaks.
2. Azure Flame Containment
He would create flames the size of a candle and hold them for hours.
"Your flames burn like a forest fire."
"You need them to burn like a scalpel."
3. Martial Discipline
Thousands of repeated strikes.
Palm strikes.
Kicks.
Footwork.
Controlled breathing.
"Your body must move before you think."
Maya continued reading.
"After six months of this program you—"
Akira suddenly raised his hand.
"Yeah, I'm not doing that."
Silence.
Maya slowly looked up.
"…What?"
Akira stepped forward.
"I don't want control drills."
He pointed at the projection.
"I want real strength."
The room went quiet.
"I'm going to find Stone and Kingston."
Before anyone could respond—
Akira turned and walked out of the training hall.
A few minutes later.
Akira walked through the warehouse corridors.
He passed another training room.
Inside—
Gaku stood over three unconscious bodies.
Leroy.
Lorenzo.
Enma.
All knocked out cold.
Rika stood nearby clapping happily.
"Great job Gaku!"
Akira didn't stop walking.
He climbed the stairs toward the roof.
But halfway up—
He heard something.
A quiet room.
He pushed the door open.
Inside—
Stone and Kingston sat on the floor.
Eyes closed.
Perfectly still.
Meditating.
Akira blinked.
"…What are they doing?"
He stared for a moment.
Then another voice spoke behind him.
"Well obviously…"
Rika stepped into the room smiling.
"They're training."
Akira frowned.
"Training?"
He looked back at them.
"…Aren't they strong enough?"
Rika shook her head.
"Not yet."
She leaned against the doorway.
"They're training for the true peak of Tao."
Akira raised an eyebrow.
"The peak?"
Rika smiled wider.
"A gift."
"Abilities similar to a god's."
Akira stared at Stone and Kingston again.
For a moment—
His mind spun.
But then he shook his head.
Right.
That wasn't why he came here.
He stepped forward to speak—
But Maya suddenly walked past him.
"He didn't like my training plan."
Stone's eyes slowly opened.
"Apparently it won't give him real strength."
Stone stretched slightly and stood up.
He looked down at Akira.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"Oh?"
"Well if you want real strength…"
He pointed toward the training hall.
"You'll do everything in the training regimen."
Akira blinked.
Stone continued.
"While fighting."
Akira froze.
Stone pointed behind him.
"Rika."
Then to the hallway.
"Yumi."
"Both of them."
Maya smiled sweetly.
"Now apologize…"
She clasped her hands together.
"…since you've realized you asked for too much."
She nodded toward the exit.
"Then go back and start my training program."
Akira stood still.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
His eyes began glowing faintly blue.
He looked up at them.
"Sorry…"
He smiled.
"…but that's exactly what I want."